History of Martha Stewart in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 15, 2026

Martha Stewart is an influential American businesswoman, author, and television personality who built a vast multimedia empire centered on home economics and lifestyle branding. Starting her career as a stockbroker and caterer, she rose to prominence in the 1980s with her successful book series on domestic arts. She subsequently founded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which expanded into television, magazines, and home merchandise, establishing her as a household name synonymous with curated living. Despite facing significant legal challenges in the early 2000s, including a conviction related to insider trading that led to a prison sentence, Stewart successfully rebuilt her brand. Today, she remains a powerhouse in the lifestyle industry, recognized for her entrepreneurial resilience and her profound impact on the home and hospitality markets.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1912: Birth of Edward Kostyra

Edward Kostyra, the father of Martha Stewart, was born in 1912.

1914: Birth of Martha Kostyra

In 1914, Martha Kostyra, the mother of Martha Stewart, was born.

August 3, 1941: Birth of Martha Helen Stewart

On August 3, 1941, Martha Helen Stewart (née Kostyra) was born, eventually becoming a prominent American retail businesswoman, writer, and television personality.

July 1961: Marriage of Martha and Andrew Stewart

In July 1961, Martha Stewart married Andrew Stewart, a law student who had recently finished his degree at Yale Law School.

1967: Beginning of stockbroker career

In 1967, Martha Stewart embarked on a career as a stockbroker, following in the footsteps of her father-in-law. During this same period, she and her husband, Andrew Stewart, relocated to Westport, Connecticut, where they purchased and restored an 1805 farmhouse on Turkey Hill Road; this home eventually served as the design inspiration for her future television studio, Martha Stewart Living, while highlighting her burgeoning talent for home restoration and interior design.

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1976: Founding of Catering Business

In 1976, Martha Stewart launched a catering business from her basement alongside her former modeling associate, Norma Collier. The partnership eventually dissolved due to professional friction and disagreements regarding side projects, leading Stewart to acquire Collier's share of the enterprise and subsequently manage and eventually open her own gourmet food retail space following a dispute at the Market Basket.

1977: Release of The Secret Book of Gnomes

In 1977, Andrew Stewart successfully oversaw the release of the English-language edition of The Secret Book of Gnomes, which attained blockbuster status and appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list.

Gnomes

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1979: Death of Edward Kostyra

Martha Stewart's father, Edward Kostyra, passed away in 1979.

December 13, 1982: Publication of Entertaining

On December 13, 1982, Martha Stewart published her first cookbook titled Entertaining, which was ghostwritten by Elizabeth Hawes and inspired by her professional catering work.

Martha's Entertaining: A Year of Celebrations

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1983: Release of Martha Stewart's Quick Cook

In 1983, Martha Stewart expanded her bibliography by releasing the cookbook Martha Stewart's Quick Cook under the Clarkson Potter imprint.

Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus

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1984: Release of Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres

Building on her publishing success, Stewart authored and released Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres in 1984.

Martha Stewart's Hors d'Oeuvres Handbook

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1985: Release of Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts

In 1985, Stewart continued her streak of cookbook releases with the publication of Martha Stewart's Pies & Tarts.

Martha Stewart's New Pies and Tarts: 150 Recipes for Old-Fashioned and Modern Favorites: A Baking Book

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1987: Separation of Martha and Andrew Stewart

In 1987, Martha Stewart and her husband Andrew Stewart made the decision to separate.

1987: Release of Weddings

In 1987, Martha Stewart released the book Weddings, which was co-written with Elizabeth Hawes.

Weddings

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1988: Expansion of Publishing Portfolio

During 1988, Stewart published multiple titles including The Wedding Planner, Martha Stewart's Secrets for Entertaining, and Martha Stewart's Quick Cook Menus.

Martha Stewart Weddings: Ideas and Inspiration

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1989: Release of Martha Stewart's Christmas

In 1989, Stewart added to her holiday-themed collection with the release of the book Martha Stewart's Christmas.

Martha Stewart's Christmas

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1990: Launch of Martha Stewart Living Magazine

In 1990, Martha Stewart partnered with Time Publishing Ventures to create her signature magazine, Martha Stewart Living, serving as the editor-in-chief and launching the first issue to an audience of 250,000 readers.

1990: Divorce of Martha and Andrew Stewart

The marriage between Martha Stewart and Andrew Stewart officially ended in divorce in 1990.

1993: Launch of Martha Stewart Living TV Program

In 1993, Martha Stewart debuted a weekly half-hour television series titled Martha Stewart Living, which was based on the content of her magazine.

May 1995: New York Magazine Cover Feature

In May 1995, Martha Stewart was featured on the cover of New York Magazine, which officially declared her to be the definitive American woman of that era.

September 1997: Formation of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

In September 1997, Martha Stewart partnered with Sharon Patrick to secure funding and consolidate her diverse television, print, and merchandising ventures into a single entity known as Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO). Stewart took on the roles of chairwoman, president, and CEO to improve brand synergy and strategic control. Additionally, in September 1997, she announced the expansion of the brand through the launch of a companion website and a catalog business titled Martha by Mail, alongside an existing direct-to-consumer floral service.

1997: Expansion of Martha Stewart Living to Weekdays

During 1997, the television program Martha Stewart Living experienced significant growth, expanding its broadcasting schedule to include weekdays.

October 19, 1999: Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia IPO

On October 19, 1999, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia held its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, causing the stock price to surge and making Martha Stewart the first self-made female billionaire in the United States.

1999: Full Hour Expansion of Martha Stewart Living

By 1999, the Martha Stewart Living show transitioned into a full-hour program during the week, while continuing to air half-hour episodes on weekends.

December 27, 2001: ImClone Systems Stock Sale

On December 27, 2001, Martha Stewart sold all 3,928 shares of her ImClone Systems stock after receiving nonpublic information, an action that allowed her to avoid a loss of $45,673.

February 2002: Decline in MSO Stock Price

By February 2002, the stock price for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia had declined to $16 per share, though Martha Stewart maintained 96% control of the company's voting power.

June 25, 2002: Confrontation on The Early Show

On June 25, 2002, Martha Stewart appeared on The Early Show where she faced difficult questions from anchor Jane Clayson regarding the ImClone scandal. Stewart famously deflected the inquiries by continuing to chop cabbage for a salad, stating she wanted to focus on her cooking.

October 3, 2002: Resignation from New York Stock Exchange Board

On October 3, 2002, following legal developments involving Douglas Faneuil, Martha Stewart resigned from her position on the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange, a role she had held for four months.

2002: Peak Circulation of Martha Stewart Living

By 2002, the publication Martha Stewart Living reached its height in popularity, achieving a peak circulation of over 2 million copies for each issue released in 2002.

June 4, 2003: Indictment and Corporate Resignation

On June 4, 2003, Martha Stewart faced a federal indictment consisting of nine counts, including obstruction of justice. Consequently, she resigned from her positions as CEO and Chairwoman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO), though she retained her role as chief creative officer.

January 2004: Commencement of Legal Trial

In January 2004, Martha Stewart went on trial regarding insider trading allegations. Prosecutors presented evidence showing that her stockbroker, Bacanovic, advised her that ImClone CEO Samuel D. Waksal was liquidating his shares prior to a negative ruling from the Food and Drug Administration, which was anticipated to devalue the company's stock.

March 2004: Conviction of Felony Charges

In March 2004, following a six-week jury trial, Martha Stewart was found guilty of several felony charges, including conspiracy to obstruct, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and providing false statements to federal investigators.

July 2004: Sentencing to Federal Correctional Facility

In July 2004, Martha Stewart was sentenced to serve five months in a federal correctional facility, followed by a two-year period of supervised release that included five months of electronic monitoring.

2004: Dismissal of Derivative Suit

In 2004, the Supreme Court of Delaware dismissed a derivative lawsuit brought by MSLO shareholder Monica Beam against Martha Stewart and other company leadership.

2004: Conclusion of Martha Stewart Living Series

The long-running television series Martha Stewart Living, which had aired since 1993, officially concluded its production run in 2004.

March 2005: Release from Federal Prison

In March 2005, Martha Stewart was released from federal prison after serving a five-month sentence related to felony charges in the ImClone stock trading case.

2005: Debut of The Martha Stewart Show

In 2005, Martha Stewart began hosting a new syndicated television program titled The Martha Stewart Show, which remained on the air until 2012.

August 2006: SEC Civil Settlement

In August 2006, Martha Stewart reached a settlement with the SEC regarding a civil case, agreeing to pay $58,062 in disgorged funds and a $137,019 civil penalty, while also accepting a five-year ban from serving as an officer or director of any public company.

2006: Return to Profitability

In 2006, following a comeback campaign launched the previous year, Martha Stewart's company successfully returned to profitability.

2007: Death of Martha Kostyra

Martha Stewart's mother, Martha Kostyra, passed away in 2007.

June 2008: UK Visa Denial

In June 2008, the UK Border Agency denied Martha Stewart a visa for entry into the United Kingdom due to her prior criminal conviction for obstructing justice, which prevented her from speaking at the Royal Academy about the fashion and leisure industries.

2011: Rejoining the Board of Directors

In 2011, Martha Stewart rejoined the board of directors for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, marking a significant return to her company's governance.

2012: Appointment as Chairwoman

In 2012, Martha Stewart reclaimed her position as the chairwoman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, the company that bears her name.

2012: Conclusion of The Martha Stewart Show

In 2012, The Martha Stewart Show aired its final episode, marking the end of the program that had been running since 2005.

2015: Acquisition by Sequential Brands

In 2015, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was officially acquired by Sequential Brands, shifting the ownership structure of the media company.

April 2019: Sale to Marquee Brands

In April 2019, Sequential Brands Group reached an agreement to sell Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which included the Emeril brand, to Marquee Brands for a reported $175 million plus additional benchmarked payments.

2019: Entry into the cannabis industry

In 2019, Martha Stewart announced her move into the cannabis business by launching her own dedicated brand of products.

2023: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Appearance

In 2023, Martha Stewart achieved a historic milestone by becoming the oldest woman to grace the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue at the age of 81.

2024: Release of Martha Documentary

During 2024, a documentary film titled Martha, directed by R. J. Cutler, was released on Netflix, chronicling the life and career of Martha Stewart.

2025: Inflation-Adjusted IPO Valuation

As of 2025, the initial public offering price of US$18 per share from 1999 is equivalent to US$35, while the closing price of US$38 is equivalent to US$73.